Mark “The Shark” Irwin on Using Psilocybin for Performance and Recovery
Artem SmirnovMark “The Shark” Irwin took psychedelic mushrooms before every professional fight. Then stepped into the ring—and won a world championship.
Now he’s using the same medicine to heal the damage.
Watch The Short Story
A condensed version of Mark’s experience. Full interview below.
About Mark "The Shark" Irwin
Mark “The Shark” Irwin is a former Bare Knuckle Boxing World Champion and Hall of Fame fighter. After sustaining traumatic brain injuries, Mark began exploring psychedelics in both performance and recovery contexts.
Now retired, Mark works through Athletes Journey Home, supporting athletes healing from neurological trauma.
Key Takeaways From This Story
Takeaway 1 — Performance paradox
Mark used psilocybin not just to heal—but to compete at the highest level.
Takeaway 2 — The real cost of fighting
Behind Mark’s titles and awards is a reality most people don’t see: repeated trauma, cognitive strain, and long-term neurological risk.
Takeaway 3 — From fighter to healer
Mark’s path came full circle—from building an identity in the ring to helping others recover from the damage it can cause.
Full Interview (33:00)
This story was recorded in collaboration with Athletes Journey Home, an organization providing structured, science-backed support for athletes navigating transition, recovery, and the next chapter of life.
In Mark's Words
What is the real cost of being a professional fighter?
Mark: It takes a toll on your body and your brain. I’ve had multiple traumatic brain injuries, and I’ve noticed the impact on my speech and memory. Being in that level of violence also lowers your life expectancy. That’s the reality people don’t see.
How did psychedelics become part of your fighting career?
Mark: I started microdosing to help with traumatic brain injuries. Over time, I began using psilocybin in my training and saw strong results. Eventually, I fought all of my professional fights under the influence, gradually increasing the dose over the years to find what I felt was an optimal performance level.
What benefits did you experience from using psilocybin in fights?
Mark: I found that it was really beneficial for confidence, right? It made me supremely confident, which is important when you’re making split second decisions in the ring. it’s good for creativity. it increases your ability to get into your flow state more quickly, as we call it, where you’re in the zone, right? it improves visual acuity, so there’s a lot of performative benefits.”
Reflection on this story
This conversation opens deeper questions around identity, masculinity, and healing.
Read a personal reflection exploring these themes.
You Are Not Alone
If this story resonated with you, we invite you to explore more psychedelic experiences or share your own story with Normalize Psychedelics.
About Normalize Psychedelics
Normalize Psychedelics is a nonprofit working to change public understanding of psychedelic medicine by sharing real stories of healing. Through firsthand accounts, we aim to reduce stigma and broaden the conversation around mental health and wellness.
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